SPOTLIGHT = Gloria Gaynor (1 song) & Gin Blossoms (1 song)

A Newark NJ native & a band from Tempe AZ….

#1
Gloria Gaynor was born in Newark NJ as Gloria Fowles. In the 1960s, she was a singer with the Soul Satisfiers, a jazz-pop band. ~30 years later, she acted, guest starring in TV shows such as “That ‘70s Show” & “Ally McBeal”. Though she’d had Top 10 success with 1974’s “Never Can Say Goodbye” (#9, Billboard Hot 100; #1 Dance) & 1975’s “Walk On By” (#6, Dance), many consider her a 1-hit wonder for this song, her only Billboard Hot 100 Top 5. This single originally hit the airwaves 10/23/1978 as the B-side to a cover of The Righteous Brothers’ “Substitute”; however, radio stations played this song instead & new record copies featured this song as the A-side. Along with topping both the Billboard Hot 100 & Dance charts in 1979, this song won the Best Disco Recording Grammy (1980). Internationally, this song reached the Top 10 of ~20 charts.

#2
Gin Blossoms formed in 1987 in Tempe AZ. This song debuted November 1993 as the 4th single from the band’s debut album ‘New Miserable Experience’; in early 1994, it claimed #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, while reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #5 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. It also notched at #3 in Canada. Their prior release, 1993’s “Hey Jealousy” had put them on the map when it peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Later familiar tunes include 1994’s “Allison Road”, 1995’s “Til I Hear It From You” & 1996’s “Follow You Down”.